Detachable draft-frame for vehicles



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

, L. G. MOWRY.

DETACHABLB DRAFT FRAME PoR VEHICLES. No. 381,481.

Patented Apr. 17, 1888.

Inv/enger, 513mm 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

,Zwv @vigor (iii UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI G. MOWRY, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

DETACHABLE DRAFT-FRAME FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 381.491, dated April1'7, 1888.

Application tiled January 23. 1888. Serial No. 261.568. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

This invention relates to a detachable draftframe which is moreespecially designed for use in connection with portable tire-engines andhook-and-ladder trucks. In localities or districts where the streetshave considerable grade,and especially in the winterscasomwhen thecondition ofthe streets renders the draft of heavy wheeled vehiclesdifficult, it is necessary to attach three draftanimals to the engine ortruck.

The object of my invention is to constructa strong, light, and durableframe to which the whiftletrees and the thills for the center animal arehung, and which can be readily attached to the engine or truck, or beremoved therefrom.

The invention consists of theimprovements which will be hereinafterfully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is atop plan View of my improved draft-fran1e and the front portion of theframe of a portable fire-engine. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsection in line x x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa similar view in line y y, Fig.l. Fig. 4t is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the poles oflthe thills and the draft-frame in line z z, Fig. 1. Fig. .5 is avertical crosssection in line w w, Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryhorizontal section of the draft-frame.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several gures.

A represents the front portion of the frame of a portable engine, whichmay be of any ordinary construction.

B represents the detachable draft-frame, to the front side of which thepoles C C of the thills are independently pivoted in any suitsnitablemanner, so that the center animal can enter between the thills from thesides thereof, Without backing into the same, by raising one of thethill-poles. rIhe poles C C are preferably braced by diagonal'rods c c',secured with their front ends to the inner sides of the thillpoles andpivoted with their rear ends to thethiIl-fralne B in line with thepivots of the 'chill-poles. The whiffletrees, which are piv- 'oted tothe under side of the frame B, are of the usual draftequalizing type,and are shown by dotted lines in Fig. l. The frame Bis provided on itsrear side with a short tongue or pole, D, arranged at right anglesthereto, and which passes through an opening or socket, d, formed in thefront cross-piece, a, of the engine-frame. The tongue D is provided atits rear end with a stud or pin, d, which engages in an opening orsocket, e, formed at the lower end of a depending arm, E, secured to theadjacent part of the engine-frame. The main portion or body of theframeB and tongue D is constructed of wood, and the tongue D is formedat its front end with a tenon, d, which tits in a mortise formed in theframe B,

and is secured therein by a vertical bolt, f,'

which also serves as a support for the main frameF of the whifiletrees,as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

gg represent metallic re-enfoxcing plates secured, respectively, to theupper and lower sides ofthe frame B and tongue D, and h is a metallicre-enforcing strap extending around the edge of the frame B and tongue Dand secured thereto by bolts or rivets. These re-enforcing plates andstraps stiien and strengthen the frame and its tongue.

I represents a spring-catch attached to the tongue D, and whereby thelatter is detachably secured in place in the sockets or openings dand e.The catch I is arranged in a recess, z', formed in the tongue D, and ispivoted at its rear end between lugs or ears formed on the upperreenforcing plate, g. The front end of this catch projects through anopening, i', formed in the top plate, g,'and bears with its front endagainst the rear side of the crosspiece a, when the tongue is attachedto the en gine-frame.

j is a wedge sliding in the recess t and adapted to bear against thelower curved or inclined front end of the catch I, so as to cause thefront portion of the catch to project through the opening z" and holdthe same against the rear side of the cross-piece a. The wedge j is IOU2k v i 381,481

provided with a horizontal stem or rod, j', which is guided in alongitudinal opening formed in the tongue D.

7c is a spiral spring surrounding the stein of the wedge and interposedbetween a plate, 7c', secured to the end of the opening, and a shoulderor offset formed on the stem. This spring forces the stem j inwardlyvand causes the wedgej to raise the front end of the catch I.

Z is a lever pivoted to the frontv side of the frame B and attached atone end to the stem of the wedge j. Upon pressing thefree arm of thelever inwardly toward the frame B the wedge j will be withdrawn from thecatch and allow its outer end to drop into the recess t' and clear thecrosspiece a, in which position of the catch the tongue D can bewithdrawn from its sockets in the engine-frame, or beinserted into thesame. 'A flat spring, m, is preferably interposed between the uppersidel of the catch I and the top plate, g, to facilitate theV retractionof the catch into its recess when the wedge is moved forwardly. Thelever Z' is so. arranged that it can be operated by the knee,.so thatthe frame can be attached and removed by a single person. Theframe isattached to the engine by simply passing its-` tongue through thesockets d and c, when the;l catch will automatically lock the tongue inposition.

Theicatch I is provided on its upper side with a nose or shoulder whichbears against the rear edge of the opening t" when the tongue D is inposition, and thereby relieves the pivot of the catch from strain.

It is obvious that my improved catch may be applied to an ordinarytongue or pole, if desired.

n, Figs. 2 and 4 represents horizontal plates secured to the under sideof the draft-frame B at opposite ends thereof, and o represents simi--lar plates secured to the adjacent under sides ofthe thill-poles GC',so that when the latter are in a horizontal position the rear ends ofthe` plates n will abut againstl the adjacent ends of the plates o andsupport the poles in this position. A

I claim as my invention- 1..The combination, with the frame of aportable fire-engine or other vehicle, of a draft-framedetachably'secured to said frame, apair of thills pivoted to saiddraft-frame,

and whiflietrees, also attached to said draftvvided with a cross-bar, a,having a socket or opening, and a depending arm, E, having a socket oropening, e, of a draft-frame, B,

yprovided with a tongue arranged in said sockets, a vspringcatch,wherebythe tongue is removably secured in its sockets, and a pair ofthills pivoted to thedra'ft-frame B, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, withthe frame A, having a cross-bar, a, and socketsd e, and the draft-frame B, having a tongue, D, arranged in saidsockets, of a catch pivotcd to said tongue and adapted to bear againstthe cross-bar a,.

a wedge, j, whereby said catch is operated,a spiral spring, k, wherebysaid wedge is held against said catch, and a lever, whereby said wedge`is retracted from the catch,xsubstan tially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the draft-frame B and tongue D, of relenforcingplates g g, secured to opposite sides of the frame B and its tongue, anda re-eforcing strap,l 7L;- secured tothe edges of said parts,substantiallyV as set forth. .l

6. The combination, with the draft-frame B, provided with plates n, ofthe thill-poles C C', provided with plates 0, abutting against theplates n, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 21st day of January 1888.

LEVI e. MowRY.

